Golf ring cup



Patented May 19, 1942 srss Claims.

This invention relates to a cup of new and novel construction designed primarily for use in practicing putting.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro-' vide a simple but efiective device which can be used indoors for the purpose of developing the putting ability of a player and can be used singly or with other similar rings for the purpose of playing different kinds of indoorgames requiring the use of a cup and a ball.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light and inexpensive device which can be carried in the pocket when not in use, simulates and can be played in the same manner as a golf hole and can be adjusted either to increase or reduce the resistance ofiered thereby to the movement of a ball into position therein,

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawing- Figure 1 is a plan View of a golf ring-cup embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3 showing a slightly modified form of ring.

Figure 5 is a similar View showing another form of ring.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a portion of another modification.

Figure '7 is an elevation of a portion of still another modification.

Figure 8 is a section through the structure shown in Figure 7 and showing how the shape of the ring can be changed by turning it inside out.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a portion of another modification.

Figure 10 is a sectional view modification;

The ring-cup constituting the present invention can be made of rubber, plastic or any other material sufi'iciently resilient'to meet the requirements. It is a frusto-conical ring of desired diameter whereby there is provided a top opening of less diameter than the base of the ring. In the drawing the ring, which has been of still another indicated at I has its opening designated at 2 while the base has been shown at 3. The wall of the ring can be of the same thickness throughout as shown in Figure 3 or, if preferred, and as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the wall can be either tapered upwardly as in Figure 4 or downwardly as in Figure 5. Furthermore the Wall of the ring, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, can be made Without openings therein but generally it is desirable to provide regularly spaced slots in the bottom edge of the ring. In Figures 1 and. 2

these slots have been shown V-shaped as'indicated at 4 but obviously they can be in the nature of straight slots as shown at 5 in Figure 6 or they can merely be slits as shown at 1 in Figure '7.

For the purpose of weakening the ring structure so that it can more readily collapse while in use, openings of any desired shape may be formed in the ring between the edges thereof as indicatedat 9. Furthermore slots [0 can be extended into the ring fromits upper edge as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These slots can be of any preferred shape and sizes and the same of course applies to the openings 9.

The ring is proportioned substantially the same as a golf hole and is adapted to be placed on a carpet, a floor, or any other surface where the same is to be used either in practice or in playing a game. The flexibility of the ring is such that when a ball isdrivenagainst any portion thereof with the force usually required to send it into a golf hole, it will cause the ring to collapse so that the ball can enter the opening 2 and thus bev retained Within the cup. As the ring is molded or otherwise formed so that all the parts; thereof are normally under thesame tension, it 7 less resistance to the movement of the ball into out openings and slits and can be of difierent cross-sectional contours. In any case the ring is reversible so as to reduce the resistance offered thereby to the movement of a ball into the cup. By providing the openings and the slits, the yielding action of the ring can be increased to a desired degree.

It has been found that a device such as herein described is a valuable asset in practicing putting and it isfurther of value because, due to its reversible nature, it can be changed so as to receive and retain a ball at either of two speeds but will not retain the ball if struck too hard.

By providing slits in the bottom edge of the ring the said ring has a gripping efiect on the supporting surface so that it will not tend to slip out of position. 7

As shown in Figure 9, the wall of the ring may be convex or as shown in Figure 10, it may be of concave contour.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf cup-ring including a one-piece, flexible, frusto-conical ring having slots extending into one edge, said ring being open at the bottom and top.

2. A golf cup-ring including a one-piece, flexible frusto-conical ring having slots extending into its edges.

3. A golf cup-ring including a one-piece, flexible frusto-conical ring having weakening openings therein.

4. A golf cup-ring including a one-piece frusto-conical ring of a material sufiiciently flexible to collapse under the impact of a ball approaching the center and to permit the ring to be turned inside out, said ring having slots extending into 20 inside out, said ring having openings therein.

JAMES K. RICHIE. 

